Slaying the Dragon of Corruption: Application of Multiple-Streams Framework in Anticorruption Policy Processes in Devolved Systems of Government in Kenya

Although John Kingdon’s multiple streams (MSF) framework is utilized to explain public policy processes in the US and western countries, little empirical evidence exists of its applicability in Africa. This paper addresses this gap by interrogating agenda setting processes that combat corruption in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Justa Mwangi, Wilson Muna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: OpenEdition 2024-12-01
Series:International Review of Public Policy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/irpp/4488
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850265865196404736
author Justa Mwangi
Wilson Muna
author_facet Justa Mwangi
Wilson Muna
author_sort Justa Mwangi
collection DOAJ
description Although John Kingdon’s multiple streams (MSF) framework is utilized to explain public policy processes in the US and western countries, little empirical evidence exists of its applicability in Africa. This paper addresses this gap by interrogating agenda setting processes that combat corruption in devolved systems of government in Kenya through the lens of this framework. The paper is the result of an empirical study that involved 126 interviews and two focus group discussions involving nine key stakeholders from the counties of Kiambu and Nairobi City, which are two devolved systems of government in Kenya. The paper examines how the state, business, and civil society are intertwined within the anticorruption agenda setting processes of these two counties. The results illuminate the complex relationships between these actors as they switch roles from being facilitators (enablers) of anticorruption agendas to accomplices of corruption (through convergence of mutual interests) and demonstrate the extent to which MSF theory may be considered appropriate in the analysis of such policymaking processes. The authors present several pathways that MSF’s problem, policy, and political streams may converge to create policy windows to combat corruption, and calls for further studies in this area.
format Article
id doaj-art-4280fafb2cd0427ea4898632e4da5833
institution OA Journals
issn 2679-3873
2706-6274
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher OpenEdition
record_format Article
series International Review of Public Policy
spelling doaj-art-4280fafb2cd0427ea4898632e4da58332025-08-20T01:54:19ZengOpenEditionInternational Review of Public Policy2679-38732706-62742024-12-01610.4000/13gfsSlaying the Dragon of Corruption: Application of Multiple-Streams Framework in Anticorruption Policy Processes in Devolved Systems of Government in KenyaJusta MwangiWilson MunaAlthough John Kingdon’s multiple streams (MSF) framework is utilized to explain public policy processes in the US and western countries, little empirical evidence exists of its applicability in Africa. This paper addresses this gap by interrogating agenda setting processes that combat corruption in devolved systems of government in Kenya through the lens of this framework. The paper is the result of an empirical study that involved 126 interviews and two focus group discussions involving nine key stakeholders from the counties of Kiambu and Nairobi City, which are two devolved systems of government in Kenya. The paper examines how the state, business, and civil society are intertwined within the anticorruption agenda setting processes of these two counties. The results illuminate the complex relationships between these actors as they switch roles from being facilitators (enablers) of anticorruption agendas to accomplices of corruption (through convergence of mutual interests) and demonstrate the extent to which MSF theory may be considered appropriate in the analysis of such policymaking processes. The authors present several pathways that MSF’s problem, policy, and political streams may converge to create policy windows to combat corruption, and calls for further studies in this area.https://journals.openedition.org/irpp/4488multiple streams frameworkpublic policy processanticorruptiondevolved governmentsstatebusiness
spellingShingle Justa Mwangi
Wilson Muna
Slaying the Dragon of Corruption: Application of Multiple-Streams Framework in Anticorruption Policy Processes in Devolved Systems of Government in Kenya
International Review of Public Policy
multiple streams framework
public policy process
anticorruption
devolved governments
state
business
title Slaying the Dragon of Corruption: Application of Multiple-Streams Framework in Anticorruption Policy Processes in Devolved Systems of Government in Kenya
title_full Slaying the Dragon of Corruption: Application of Multiple-Streams Framework in Anticorruption Policy Processes in Devolved Systems of Government in Kenya
title_fullStr Slaying the Dragon of Corruption: Application of Multiple-Streams Framework in Anticorruption Policy Processes in Devolved Systems of Government in Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Slaying the Dragon of Corruption: Application of Multiple-Streams Framework in Anticorruption Policy Processes in Devolved Systems of Government in Kenya
title_short Slaying the Dragon of Corruption: Application of Multiple-Streams Framework in Anticorruption Policy Processes in Devolved Systems of Government in Kenya
title_sort slaying the dragon of corruption application of multiple streams framework in anticorruption policy processes in devolved systems of government in kenya
topic multiple streams framework
public policy process
anticorruption
devolved governments
state
business
url https://journals.openedition.org/irpp/4488
work_keys_str_mv AT justamwangi slayingthedragonofcorruptionapplicationofmultiplestreamsframeworkinanticorruptionpolicyprocessesindevolvedsystemsofgovernmentinkenya
AT wilsonmuna slayingthedragonofcorruptionapplicationofmultiplestreamsframeworkinanticorruptionpolicyprocessesindevolvedsystemsofgovernmentinkenya